|
[Home ] [ About
SA]
In terms of land use, the area under forestry is about
1,257 million ha or about 1% of the total South African land area of 122,3 million ha. The forestry sector (forestry and forest
products) contributes about 1% to gross domestic product (GDP). In terms of regional GDP,
forestry in KwaZulu-Natal contributes 4,7%; in Mpumalanga
5,5%; and about 0,8% in Limpopo.
The export of forest products increased from R9,5 billion in
2001 to R12,5 billion in 2009. The forestry sector employed
around 170 000 people in 2009. The forestry subsector
provided about 77 000 direct jobs and 30 000 indirect jobs.
The pulp and paper subsector provided approximately 13 000
direct and 11 000 indirect employment opportunities. Some
20 000 workers were employed in sawmilling, 6 000 in the
timber board and 2 200 in the mining timber subsectors, while
another 11 000 workers were employed in miscellaneous
jobs in the forestry sector.
In 2008, the total investment in the
forestry industry amounted to R18,8 billion. This investment
comprised 56,2% in trees; 24,6% in land; 11,6% in roads; 6,2%
in fixed assets; and 1,4% in moveable assets. Regarding the
investment in the forest products sector by type of processing
plant for 2008, the total book value of investments amounted
to R15,8 billion. This investment comprised 84,7% in pulp and
board plants; 10,2% in sawmills and veneer plants; 0,7% in
pole plants; 0,3% in mining timber; and 4,1% other plants.
Did you know?
South Africa has 183 primary wood-processing plants, 180 of which are owned by the private sector and three of which are owned by local and state authorities. Of these, 102 are sawmills; 13 are mining-timber sawmills; 44 are pole-treating plants; 19 are pulp, paper and board mills; one is a match factory; and four are charcoal plants.
The total roundwood intake into these processing plants in 2008 was 19,6 million m3, valued at R6 billion. The value of sales of timber products produced by these primary processing plants totalled R21,4 billion. Some R15,8 billion was invested in primary roundwood-processing plants (at book value). At market value, this increased to an estimated R40 billion.
|
[Top]
Indigenous forests
There are about 530 000 ha of indigenous or natural forests
in the country, which occur mainly along the southern and
eastern escarpment, the coastal belt and in sheltered kloofs
or ravines.
There has been an increase in the use of natural forests as sources of medicine, building material, fuel wood and food.
It is estimated that around 80% of South Africa's population
still uses medicinal plants, most of which are sourced from
natural habitats.
By mid-2008, the private sector owned 1 041 501 ha (or
83%) of the total plantation area of 1 257 341 ha, and virtually
all the processing plants in the country. The remaining 17%
(215 840 ha) was under public ownership, although this
figure includes Komatiland Forests, the remaining South
African Forestry Company Limited package. The extent of
public ownership has decreased significantly because of
restructuring.
In 2008, capital investment in these plantations stood at
R18,8 billion, 56% of which was attributable to investment in
trees. A further 24% was tied up in land, 12% in roads, 6% in
fixed assets and 2% in machinery and equipment.
Did you know?
Champion trees, protected under the National Forests Act, 1998 [PDF] are proclaimed every year in the Government Gazette. These are individual trees and groups of trees (shortlisted by a panel of experts) considered to be of national conservation importance. Among the listed trees are:
- the Tsitsikamma Big Tree along the Garden Route
- the Post Office Milkwood Tree of Mossel Bay
- the Sagole Baobab in Limpopo (one of the largest trees in South
Africa)
- camphor trees planted at Vergelegen Estate three centuries ago.
Guidelines have been developed for the use of these trees to ensure the continued benefits they offer the people of the country, both economically and ecologically
A massive gum tree, measuring more than 38 m from side to side, became the latest edition to South Africa's list of Champion Trees in 2010. The tree's massive crown shades part of the Gavin Relly Green on the Witwatersrand University campus grounds and is supported by a 7,5-m wide trunk. Gum trees in South Africa reach exceptional sizes, exceeding the sizes of other gum trees planted in all other countries except in their native Australia.
|
Source: Pocket Guide to South Africa 2010/11
Editor: D Burger. Government Communication and Information
System
[Top]
Last modified: 10 August 2011 13:44:33.
|
